Real name: Derek Shantone Wade

Effective period / Period of releases: 1998 - 1999

American rapper, multi-platinum recording artist, from Compton California.
Born on February 17, 1979 in Grenada, Mississippi and raised in Compton, CA.
As Top Dogg he was briefly signed to Death Row Records (2) and best known as having an incredibly similar style and voice to ex Death Row artist Snoop Dogg. Infamously, Top Dogg appeared in 2Pac's "It's All About U" remix, replacing the original featured artist Snoop Dogg.
Depending sources, his name can be found as Derrick (wikipedia) or Derek Shantone (BMI).